Method and apparatus fob testing and sorting materials



Mitch 27, 1928.

J. a. BELLINGER IBTHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING AND SORTING IATBRIALS F1196 Oct. 11, 1919 the mechanical condition or Pam; Mar. :7, 192a UNITED STATES 1,663,539 PATENT OFFICE.

l'mfl G. BILLINGEB, 01 CLEVELAND, OHIO:

n'rnon AND APPLE-MUS FOR TESTING AND HOSTING IATERIALS.

Application me October 11, 1019. mm Io. 320,914;

This invention relates to a method of testing, or testing and grading materials in accordance with their phy ical or chemical characteristics.

Though this method could be used for testing, or both testing and grading a variety of dili'erent materials in accordance with their characteristics as determined by either chemical composition or condition of the constituent elements entering into the material, I might mention by way of example, that the invention readily lends itself to the testing and grading of tools, or of materials which enter into the con truction of tools, or of forgings, castings, and the like.

My improved method is based on the fact that the permeability of the materials or pieces to be tested or the flux density set up therein when subjected? to a magnetic field is dependent upon not only the kind of material or piece, and the size and shape of the material or piece, but also upon its pro erties as determined by the mechanical con ition or homogeneity of the material and the chemical condition or proportions of the various ingredients or elements which make up the material.

The results of testing are obtained by my method, preferably not by the measurement or determination of the permeability of or flux density induced in any particular piece or material, but by a comparison of its permeability, or of the flux density, preferably through the action of an induced current whose value depends upon the permeability, with the permeability of a test piece whose condition from both mechanical and chemical standpoints is known. Further, by the use of suitable means responsive to electrical effects, due to conditions of permeability of the different pieces or materials as compared with the permeability of the test piece referred to, the various pieces can be sorted automatically into lots, dependent upon whether the pieces have permeabilities which are within limits substantially the same as the permeability of the test piece, or which exceed or are less than the permeability of the test piece by predetermined amounts.

My invention can be carried out with many forms of apparatus and can be em ployed for many specifically difl'erent pur poses, but that m stood, I show in t method may be undera accompanying sheet 01 drawings, in a more or less conventional or diagrammatic fashion, an apparatus which might be employed for one purpose, namely, the testing and sorting of metal pieces, and in the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view illustrating the supplying, feeding, sorting, and part of the testing means; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, showing also the electric circuits by which the permeability or flux density comparisons are made, and by which the apparatus is calibrated for a particular test piece or material similar to the pieces or materials to be tested.

The pieces 10 which are to be tested by con11 ):n-mg their permeabilities or'the flux density set up therein with the permeability or flux density set up in a test or standard piece, are w1th the apparatus herein illustrated, fed, one at a tmie and at predetermined intervals from a hopper 11 onto an intermittently traveling belt 12 which can be given its intermittent movement by any suitable means as by the well-known Geneva sto movement including an actuatmg or sing e toothed member 13 on a shaft 14 which can be driven by a motor orother constant speed mechanism, and a member 13 which at each revolution of the member 13 s moved through a portion of a revolution, in th1s instance, a quarter of a revolution.

The members 13' is connected by multiplying lgearing 15 to a pulley 16, which drives t e belt 12, the latter passi about another pulley 17 located it suits le distance from the pulley 16.

It is important that the posed on the belt 12 in simi ar osition, and in this instance this is accomplished by loeating or positionin pins 18, fastened to a belt 19, which trave s inside the belt 12, as shown, around the pulley 16, and around a pulley 20, so that these pins will project through the belt 12 and locate thepieces 10 accurately thereon in a predetermined position, and will be withdrawn from the belt 12 at the pulley 20.

Surrounding the llilpper portions of both belts between the pn eys 16 and 20 is a coil having a prim 21, and a secondary 22. The riving mec anism is so designed that the belts Wlll come to rest each time one of the pieces 10 arrives at the center of the coil as shown in Fig. 1. The primary 21 of this coil is preferably connected to a source S, of alternating current either of constant amperage or constant potential. A

ieces 10 be dis shown in Figs. 1 and constant ulsating current could be used, but this wou d have the disadvantage that it would leave certain specimens or pieces 10 with residual magnetism, but this could be overcome by causing the pieces "10 to pass through a coil such as shown at 22, traversed' by a demagnetizing current before the pieces 10 leave the belt. The term changin current might therefore be used in a broa sense to cover either an alternatin current or a pulsating direct current.

be primary current induces a current in the secondary 22, and the current which is thus induced in the secondary is dependent upon the condition of 10. It will be understood that if the condition of the pieces 10 vary either from mechanical or chemical standpoints, the secondary current is varied.

The terminals of the secondary 22 are connected by conductors 23 and 24 to a solenoid 25 having a plunger 26 connected to a multiplyin lever 27, whose end remote from the sofianoid lunger is adapted to make contact with t ree separated contacts 28, 29 and 30. This lever at all times engages contact 29, and is adapted to be moved over so as to engage both contacts 28 and 29 or 30 and 29. The lever has connected to it a spring 27" which canbe adjusted by a screw 2 This lever by its co-operation with the three contacts, controls the position of a swinging sorting chute 31 which is arranged just above and at the end of belt 12, as 2 and is designed to receive the pieces 10 and to guide them into one of three delivery or sorting chutes 32, 33 and 34. Chllte 32 is in line with the belt and with the movable chute 31 when the latter is in its mid or normal position, and the chutes 33 and 34 extend of! at suitable angles with respect to the vmiddle chute 32. The position of the movable chute 31 is controlled in this instance by a toothed segment 35 arranged above and on the pivot 36 of the chute 31, and by a rack 35", having at its ends plungers 37 and 38, the former constituting the core of two solenoids 39 and 40 arranged concentrically in this instance, but not necessarily so, and the lunger 38 being the core of another solenoid 41 For the energization of the solenoids 39, 40 and 41, I employ in this instance an independent source of current, here shown as a battery 45, which has one terminal connected by a conductor 46 to the lever 27, and which has its other terminal connected by conductor 47 to one terminal of each of the three solenoids 39, 40 and 41. The other terminals of these solenoids are connected to the contacts 28, 29 and 30, solenoid 39 being connected by conductor 42 to contact 29, solenoid 40 by conductor 43 to contact 28, and solenoid 41 by conductor 44 to contact 30.

Inasmuch as lever 27 at all times engages contact 29, it follows that as long as the aparatus is in use, solenoid39 is ener 'zed.

e movement of the rack 35" under t e influence of this solenoid is such as to move the movable chute 31 into alignment with the middle delivery chute 32.

When the lever 27 engages contacts 28 and 29, as when a greater secondar currcm traverses solenoid 25 than traverse it when lever 27 engaged contact 29 alone, then both solenoids 39 and 40 are energized, and through the rack and pinion, chute 31 is moved into alignment with delivery chute 33.

When the attraction of plunger 26 by solenoid 25 is a minimum, spring 27' exerts its pull on lever 27, causing the lever to engage both contacts 29 and 30. This energizcs solenoid 41, and the movable chute 31 is thereby shifted into alignment with delivery chute 34.

In connection with the chute shifting mechanism I provide a lock which acts to normally hold the chute in a given position and prevents it being shifted through the action of any one of the three solenoids 39, 40 and 41, until the mechanism is automatically released. In this instance the lock is in the form of a tongue carried by a solenoid core or plunger 49, which tongue is adapted to engage 111120 one of three properly positioned notches on the back of the rec 35. The plunger is moved to locking position by a spring 51, and it is moved in the op ite direction so as to release the chute s ifting mechanism by a solenoid coil 52, whose terminals are connected by con-,

ductors 53 and 54 to the terminals of the battery, there being in the circuit, however. a pair of contacts 55 normally open but adapted to be electrically connected at each revolution of the Geneva movement member 13, the closing of the circuit of solenoid 52 taking place before each iece 10 leaves the coil 21-22 so that this c ute can be swung to proper position with respect to delivery chutes 32, 33 and 34. Immediately after the chute 31 is properly positioned by the action of the proper solenoid or solenoids, the

chute shifting mechanism is locked in position by the action of the spring 51 and by the de-ener ization of solenoid 52 by the opening of its circuit at contacts 55.

To calibrate the solenoid 25, the master specimen or test piece 10 is placed in the coil 21-22, and the current or energy flowing in the secondary is read by a suitable instrument such as an ammeter or watt meter 56, which can be placed in the secondary circuit by the movement of a switch 57, this switch normal] closing the secondary circuit with the lnstrument eliminated therefrom. An adjustable resistance or choke coil 58 is then so adjusted that only a given current can flow, and then by adjustin the tension of the spring 27 by means 0 the 1 ,aesasao adjusting screw 27, it follows that any desired per cent. change of current, whether of a plus value or a minus value with respect to the value when llli' test piece is in the coil 2l-i!:.t after the adjustment has been made by the choke coil resistance 58. will cause contact to be made between the lever 27 and either contact 28 or contact 30.

After the instrument has been adjusted. as above explained, the. pieces to he tested are sent through the apparatus, the operation of the mechai'iism being such that they 'are deposited one at a time, at the proper intervals and in the proper position on the conveying belt 12. As each piece comes to the center of the coil 2l-522, the movement of the belt is stopped temporarily, and as a changing current, either alternating or putsating direct is flowing in the primary, a current is induced in the secondar having a value which is directlyproportionate to the ermeability of the piece, or to the flux density set up therein. If this permeability or flux density is the same, or substantially the same as that of the test piece, it follows that the lever 27 will be swung to or substantially to its mid position, engaging only contact 29, in which event only the solenoid 39 will be energized, and as soon as the circuit of the lockingsolenoid 52 is closed at the contacts 55, this taking place immediately after the lever 27 has assumed its proper position, the movable delivery chute 31 it previously in the mid position will be held in that position, but if not, it will be swung to its mid positionand immediately thereafter it is locked in that position through the action of the spring on the plunger 49. the spring becoming effective to shift the plunger to locking position on the openingmf the circuit of the solenoid 52, which takes place at the contacts 55 shortly after the closure of said circuit.

The particular piece being tested is therefore a substantially perfect piece (assuming that the test piece is a perfect pieceiwhich is to be. delivered through the middle delivery chute 3:2.

The single toothed gear then again comes into action, again actuating the belt so as to bring the next piece into the coil 21-22 and to deliver the piece already in the coil 21- 22 through the chute 31, now held in its middle p()sltltm,ll\l0 the inclined delivery chute 32. The operation is then repeated for the piece now ulaced in the coil. Should this piece also be a perfect piece, the delivery chute will not be shifted from its mid position. and it also will be delivered through the middle chute 32, but should the permeability of the piece now under consideration, or should the flux density which is induced therein, be greater or less by a predetermined amount than that of the test piece, the lever-27 will be swung either to a position so as to engage contact 28' or contact 30, and the movable delivery chute/3t will be swung to align either with delivery chute 253 or delivery chute-34, depending upon whether the permeability orllux density war: by the predetcrminml amount, greater or less than that of the test piece; This piece will therefore be delivered not with the perfect specimens. but through either the de livery chute 32} or 2''}, depending upon whet her the permeability or flux density was greater or less than that of the test piece. This change in the pcrnu-ability of flux density is due to some variation in the condition of the piece. which variation maybe either a mechanical one such as a flaw, or an excessive or insullicient degree of hardness, or a chemical one such as a variation from normal in the amount of some ingredient entering into the com 'iosition of the piece.

Thus as the apparatus continues its operation, the pieces are successively tested and autonnitically sorted in accordance with their conditions, the so-called perfect pieces going into one lot, and the so-called more or less defective pieces going into one of two other lots, dependent upon whether the defects or variation in the condition of the pieces caused relatively high or relatively low permcabilit or flux density.

The elivery of the pieces 10 from the hopper 11 onto the belt 12, may be controlled by any suitable mechanism such as a gate operating synchronously or in predetermined timed relationship with the helt driving mechanism.

The apparatus as herein constructed and operated is especially useful in enabling a manufacturer of quantities of a. given article, such for exam le, as tools, to determine whether the artic es are perfect or imperfeet, and if the latter, for what reason. It

- is not essential that finished tools be fed through the apparatus for they may be partially completed tools for example, or pieces of machined or unmachined articles, but designed for the production of the tools.

Any suitable type or shape of parts or pieces may be thus tested by apparatus such as above, the conveying means being, of course, designed to accommodate or handle pieces of any given design or shape.

Under some circumstances it may be desirable to carry out the testing feature without the sorting feature, in which event the apparatus could be used with the instrument 56 in circuit if desired, or with it out of circuit, in which event a current responsive" device, such as the lever 27 could be utilized to indicate the condition of the pieces, or of different portions of the same piece fed through the coil 21-22.

If it is likel that the condition which causes the permeability or flux density to be greater or less by the predetermined lib amount than that of the standard piece, might be both mechanical or chemical, after the sorting as above explained further testing would be required to determine what condition caused the defect, but should the proportions of the ingredients or the chemical condition of the pieces be known to be that of the test piece, the operator will know that the variations in permeability or flux density were due to mechanical reasons, and it follows that should the mechanical condition of the pieces be known to be that of the test piece. the operator will know that the variation in permeability or flux density was due to a chemical condition such as an excess of or an insutlieient amount of an ingredient entering into the composition of the pieces.

It will be obvious that the mechanical means which is electrically controlled to accomplish the sorting, may assume many different forms, and it will be understood also that while I have shown apparatus by which the pieces are sorted into t rec groups, it is not at all necessary that. the method be confined to sorting into three groups or lots only, but that the number of gradations might be increased to any desired number.

Having described m invention, I claim:

1. The method whic consists in successively subjecting pieces to a device sensitive to variations in the permeabilities of the pieces from the permea ility of a test or standard piece, and utilizing said device for automatically sorting the pieces into one lot if their 86 permeabilities are'equal to or approximate the permeability of the test or standard iece, or into one of aplurality of other ots depending upon the character of the differences between their permeabillties and the permeability of the test piece.

assocated with the magnetic field for automatically sorting them into a plurality of lots in accordance with their ma etic permeabilities one lot including the pleccs whose magnetic permeabilities approximate a certain value, and a second lot including those whose penneabilities vary in a certain manner from said value, and a third lot including those whose permea-b'ilities vary in a still different manner from said value.

3. The method which consists in feeding pieces throu h a magnetic field and utilizing the electrica efi'ect of the pieces ona circuit associated with the ma netic field for automaticallv sorting them into one lot which includes those whose permeabilities approximate a certain value, or into a plurality of other lots depending upon the extent or manner in which their permeabilities vary from said value. y

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

JAMES G. BELLINGER. 

